Talking machine



w. N. DENNISON TALKING MACHINE Original Filed Aug.. 18, 1909 NM N1 Nw s S S E N T m Patented -pn 22, 1924.

UNITED STAT Es PATENT OFFICE.

WILBURN N. DENNISON, F NEW YORK, N. Y., vASSIGNOR T0 VICTOR TALKING MA- CHINE COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

TALKING MACHINE.

Continuation of application Serial No. 513,382, filed August 18, 1909. 1917. Serial No. 1825436.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, WILBURN D. DENNI- soN, `a citizen -of the United States, and a Y resident of the city of New York, county of New York, andY State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inf'ialking Machines, ofk which the following is a full, clear, and complete disclosure, reference being had tothe accompanying drawing. The main objects of this invention are, to provide artalking machine having a rotary record4 support, a sound recorder or rappo- 1 ducer adapted to cooperate therewith in contact with a sound record. inithe form of an undulatory spiral, and improved actuating mechanism for automatically imparting to the support a varying speed of rotation, the rate of rotation being atgall times substan- 2o tially inversely proportional to the distance of the reproducer or recorder from the center of the spiral, to give a uniform surface speed to the record in relation to the reproducer or recorder; to provide a talking Inachine, having a rotary record support, and actuating mechanism for automatically imparting to the support a constantly varying speed of rotation to give to a record carried by the support a uniform surface speed in no relation to a recorder or `reproducer cooperating therewith,.and which may be adjusted for automatically imparting to the 'support a uniform speed of rotation; to provide a talking machine having a rotary record support freely' movable axially and driven by a friction roller sustaining the weight of the support; and to provide other improvements as will ap ear hereinafter.

ln. the accompanying rawing,l the gure' c10 is a side elevation partly in central longitudinal vertical section' of a talking machine constructed in accordance with this invention. 4

Referring to the drawing, one embodiment of this invention comprises a case or cabinet 1, having a substantially rectangular body portion 2, and a substantially fiat horiv `zontal cover 3, superimposed thereon, and movable with respect thereto. Rigidly seau cured upon the under side of the `cover 3 is a substantially' Hat rigid base plate 4, having an oppositelyextending vertical lug 5, provided with a vertical central aperture 6, orming a bearing for a verticall axially This application tiled August 27,

, movable rotary turntable shaft 7 which projects downwardly within the casing and upwardly centrally through the cover 3, of the casing, carrying upon its upper. end the usual horizontal turntable 8, for supporting the usual disc sound record 9, the turntable being held-against rotation with respect to the shaft 7 by means of a pin 10 extending through the shaft and engaging in a recess provided therefor upon the under side of the table. l

Above therecord support and adapted to cooperate therewith is a sound reproduceror recorderv 1l, of any suitable construction adapted to cooperate with the sound record 9, upon the recordlsupport. This sound reing tubular sound conveying arm 12, the rear end of which is turned upwardlyand vis rotatably supported by a vertical pivot 13, rigid therewith, which is mounted to rotate upon a fixed axisupon the upper end of a bracket 14, the lower end of which extends forwardly and is rigidly rsecured 4to the rear side of the rear wall of the casing 1 of the machine.v The tubular arm 12 may communicatewith an `amplifier section 15 arranged upon thebracket 14 as usual.

A spring motor 15, of any well known or suitable construction, having a substantially horizontal rotary drive shaft 16, is located transversely within the front portionof the casing, the drive shaft being preferably substantially parallel to the front of the casing and in front of and slightly below the `lower end of the turntable shaft`7. One end of the drive shaft 16 journalled in the intermediate portion of a bracket 17, depending rigidly from the base plate 45. Upon the drive -shaft 16 of the motor is rigidly fixed a worm gear 18 with which engages a worm 19 coaxial and rigid with the lower portion of an upwardlyjnclined transmission spindle 20, the lower end of which is ljournalled in a lug 21 rigid with the bracket 17, and substantially .in vertical alinement with and below the drive shaft 16 of the motor. end of the transmission spindle is journalled in an upwardly extending lug 22 rigid with the forwardly extending lower end of a bracket 23 depending rigidly from the plate 4, this lug being below and hi proximity to the lower end of the turntable shaft 7.

The upper ney l producer or recorder is pivotally connected v to the free front end of a rearwardly extend-v For controlling the speed ofthe motor to give it a constant rate, a worm gear 24 is rigidly mounted upon the transmission spindle 20, above the worm 19, and meshes with a worm 25,*rigid and coaxial with the lower endof an upwardly inclined governor spindle 26, the lower endof which is journalled j in a bearing 27 upon the upper side of the rearwardly turned lower end of the bracket 17 and 'the upper eiid of which is journalled in a downwardly projecting lug 28, integral with the upper portion of the bracket 17.

The governor spindle 26 is provided as usual intermediate its ends with a fixed collar'29, to which is rigidly secured one end of each of a plurality of springs. 30,

the other ends of which are rigidly secured to a sleeve 31, which is longitudinally slidable upon the governor spindle and which carries coaxial and rigid therewith the usual friction disc 3.2, each spring havmg connected thereto intermediate of its ends, the usual weight or fly ball 33.

'To control the speed of the governor, friction pads 35 are mounted upon a pivot 34 to swing upon a fixed axis adjacent and upon the under side of the friction disc 32,

and are adapted to engage against the friction disc. Any well known means may be provided for adjusting the friction pads in any desired fixed position to regulate the governor to a corresponding contant speed, for instance, the pivot 34 upon which thepads are rigidly mounted to oscillate may be extended and provided with a 'crank arm 36, the outer end of which is yieldy ing'ly held by means of a spring 37 between the `arm and the casing, against the inner end of an adjusting screw 38 which extends through the cover ofthe casing, and is adapted to be rotated to adjust the pads.

For transmitting the energy `of the constant speed motor 15, to the turntable 8,

, to drive the turntable at a constantly varying speed, the transmission spindle v20 of the motori is preferably arranged substanspindle. This roller engages at its periphery against the internal conical surface 43 of a friction cone 44, which is mountedV upon the lower end of the turntable spindle 7 rigid and coaxial therewith.

The internal conical surface 43 of the friction cone is inclined at an angle lto a horiaontal plane equal to the angle of inclination of the axis of rotation ofthe friction Y of its axis Without changing the position of the cone axially.

To insure a suitable pressure between the friction roller 40 and 'the friction cone 44, the shaft 7 of the turntable is free to move vertically in either direction carrying the turntable and friction c one therewith and the entire weight of the record, the turntable and turntable shaft, and the friction cone is supported through the friction cone by the friction roller. By this construction av suicient vpressure is always maintained between the friction roller and the friction cone to'nsure the rotationof the turntable. p

For moving the frictionroller 40 axially -to vary the speed of the turntable, the roller is mounted between the two arms 50 which extend downwardly from the roller in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis thereof and the outer ends of which are rigid with a nut 51, which is longitudinally movable upon a screw 52,

,arranged substantially parallel with and below the spindle 2O` upon which the. roller is-mounted. Antifriction balls53 may be arranged between the under side of the roll-v er 40 and the upper side of the under arm 50 in a race-way'provided therefor to receive the downward thrust of the roller, due to the weight of the parts resting thereon. The screw 52 is journalled at its lower end in a bearing 54, carried by the lower end of the motor bracket 17, and at its upper end in a bearing 55 rigid with the lower end of the transmission bracket 23.

For rotating the screw 52, a pinion 60 is rigidly mounted upon the upper end -of the screw 52 and is engaged by a gear 61 rigid with the lower end of an upwardly and rearwardly inclined rotatable shaft 63, the lower portion of which is journalled in a lug 64, projecting downwardly and rearwardly from the lower portion of the transmission bracket 23. in a fixed position long itudinally b v means of the gear 61 which contacts against the under side of the lug 64, and a collar 65 upon the ,shaft` which contacts with the The shaft 63 is held f upper side of the lug. The upper end of j the inclined shaft 63 projects through an aperture provided therefor in the upper port-ion of the rear wall of the casing and' through a lug 66 which projects upwardly from the lower end of the sound arm bracket 14, and the shaft extends rearwardlyv from thelug and towards the pvot 13 supporting the Sound arm.

For rotating the inclined shaft, 63, its upper end is provided with a sleeve 67 slida'ble longitudinallythereof, and held against rotation with respect thereto by means'of a headed screw 68 threaded through a slot 69, extending longitudinally of the sleeve, and into the shaft`63, the head of. the screw overlapping lthe edges of the slot' so that the sleeve may b e adjusted in a fixed position by tightening the screw. The sleeve 67 projects upwardly beyond the end of the shaft 63 and within the upper end of this sleeve is journalled the lower end of an upwardly and rearwardly inclined shaft 70, which is journalled intermediate of its ends into an upwardly and forwardly projecting lug 71, integral with the sound arm bracket 14.

Rigid with the upper end of this latter sha-ft 70 is a bevel -pinion 72 which rests against the upper side of the lug 71, and engages a segmental bevel gear 73 rigid with the pivot 13 supporting the sound conveying arm 12. A collar 74 is fixed upon this shaft 70, in contact with the lower side of the lug 71, and the shaft 70 is thus held against longitudinal motion in one direction by the pinion 72 and in the opposite direction by the collar 74. A key 75 fixed upon the shaft 70 is adapted to engage in a slot 76 provided therefor in the upper end of the sleeve 67 when the sleeve is in its uppermost position, and the sleeve is provided upon its lower end with a downwardly projecting lug 77, which is adapted. to engage a recess 78 provided therefor in the fixed lug 66 of the sound arm bracket 14, when the sleeve is in its lower-most position.

With this construction in mind, it is evident that in the operation of this improved talking machine the movement of the sound reproducer or recorder about its pivot 13 across the face of the record will rotate the inclined shaft 70, through the bevel action of the gear 73; and the bevel pinion 72, and when the sleeve 67 is 'in its uppermost position the rotation` of the shaft 70 will be transmitted through the sleeve to the shaft 63 and in turnv to the screw 52, whereby the friction roller will be moved longitudinally of its axis toward the periphery of its friction cone as the sound reproducer or recorder is moved toward the center of the record. As the friction roller is rotated at a uniform speed by the constant speed motor the speed of rotation of the turntable will be at all times substantially proportional to the distance from the axis of the turntable of the point of contact between the roller and its friction cone.

The pitch of the screw 52 which moves the friction roller axially "and the ratios between the diameters of the gears inv the driving mechanism of the screw are so iixed. that the movement of the sound reproducer or recorder l1 toward the axis ot rotation ofthe sleeve 6 record will cause a proportionally equal movement 'of the point 'of.contact of the friction roller away from the axis of the friction cone, and the surface speed of the -turntable or of the, record carried thereby will be thus maintained substantially constant with respect to the sound reproducer 66. whereupon the friction roller 40 will be/ held xed axially and when the motoris in operation will move the turntable at a uniform speed-of rotation. By swinging the sound arm 12, toward or away from the axis of the turntable while the machine is in operation and while the sleeve 67 is adjusted to move the friction roller axially, the position of the roller may be adjusted so as to give, within Athe limits of the machine, any

desired speed of rotation to the turntable and, the motor may be stopped while the arm is held in this position, and the sleeve may then be lowered to change from a vari# able speed of rotation of the turntable to a constant speed of rotation at the rate corresponding to the position of the arm when the machine was stopped.

Although only a single form has been shown in which this invention may be ernbodied, it is obvious that many changes might be made in the construction illustrated without departing from the spirit of this invention or the scope of the 1appended clains. v v 1 This application is a continuation of my prior app ication, Serial No. 513,382, filed AAugust 18, 1909.

Having thus described my-invention what l claim and desire to protectby Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. In a talking machine in which there producer is impelled across the recordl by the sound record groove through the stylus in engagement therewith, the combination with a rotary record support, of a movable sound reproducer, a constant speed motor and means between the motor and the support and controlled by the sound reproducer when reproducing sound, for driving the support at a constantly varying rate of rotation while the motor is actuated at a coni stant speed.

- 2. In a talking machine, the combination with a rotary record support, of a sound reproducer mounted to move in relation to said support, and means controlled by said reproducer for imparting a constantly varyingspeed of rotation to said record support, said means including a conical surface anda roller engaging said conical surface. 3.` In a talking machine, the combination with a disc record support mounted to rotate upon a fixed axis, of a constant speed motor, and means between the motor and the record support and sustaining the entire weight of said support for imparting a constantly varying speed of rotation to the suprt. f y Ina talking machine in which the reproducer is impelled across the record by the sound record groove throughthe stylus in engagement therewith, Athe combination with a record. support mounted to rotate upon a fixed axis, of a sound reproducer mounted to move with respect to the axis of said support, a'constant'speed motor, and

' means between the motor and the record support, and controlled by said sound re-A controlled by Said segmental gear for imparting to the saidsupport a constant surface speed with respect to said reproducer.

6. In a talking machine in which thereproducer is impelled across the record by the sound record groove through the stylus in engagement therewith, the combination with a record support mounted to rotate abouta iixed axis, of a movable sound reproducer, a constant speed motor and means between the motor and the support and con'- trolled byz the sound reproducer when reproducing sound, for driving the support at a constantly varying rate of rotation while the motor is actuated a constant speed, said means being 'adjustable to permit of i the rotation of said support at a constant rate by said motor.

` 7'. In al talking machine, the combination with a rotary spindle, of a record support mounted thereon, a friction member fixed on said spindle, and a friction roller movable longitudinally of its axis of rotation and engaging said friction member and supporting and actuating said record support through the agency of'said friction vmember and said spindle.

8. In a .talking machine, lthe combination' with a rotary record support, of a constant speed motor, a friction roller, and means having a conical surface engaged by said roller for rotating said support.

9. In a talking machine, the combination with a rotary spindle, of a record ysupport mounted thereon, a friction member having a conical surface carried by said spindle, and a movable friction roller engaging Said conical surface for rotating said support.

10. In a talking machine, the combination with a rotary record support mounted uponv a iixed axis, of means for imparting a ro tary movement to said support, comprising a member-having-aconical surface, and a friction roller engaging said conical'surface and supporting the weight of said record support. 4 v

11. In a talking machine inwhich the reproducer is impelled across the record by the sound record groove through the stylus in engagement therewith, the .combination with a rotary recordsupport, of a sound reproducer, means for rotating said support, comprising an axially movable friction roller, and means actuated by said reproducerfor automatically movin said roller axially to vary the speed of sai support.

12. In a talking machine in which. the reproducer is impelled across 'the record by the sound record groove through the stylus in engagement therewith, the combination with a rotary record support, of a movable sound reproducer mounted to cooperate with said support, and means to rotate' said support, comprising'a friction member having a conical surface, an axially movable friction roller engaging said surface, and means actuated by said reproducer for` moving said roller axially.

13. In a talking machine, the combination .with a rotary record support, of a movable sound reproducer mounted to cooperate with. said support, and means torotate said sup'- po-rt, comprising an axially movablev friction roller supporting the weight of said record support, and means actuated by said reproducer for' movingv said roller axially.

14. In a talking machine, the combination `with a record support-mounted to rotate upon a iixed axis, of'a sound reproducer mounted to swing toward and `away from said axis, an axially movable friction roller supporting the weight of saidrecord support, and means actuated by said reproducer for moving said friction roller axiallyv to give said support a speed of rotation substantially inversely proportional to the distance of the reproducer from the axis of the record support. 15. In a talking machine, the combination withV a record support mounted to rotate 'upon a fixed axis, lof a sound reproducer mounted to -move toward and vaway from said axis, a constant speed motor, an axially movable friction roller actuated by said motor for rotating said record support, and

' means actuated by said reproducer for movamabile with a rotary record support, of a movable reproducer adapted to cooperate with said support, an axially movable friction roller for rotating said support, a carriage in lsaid reproducer which said roller is mounted, a screw engaging said carriage, and means actuated by for rotating said screw to move said carriage together with said roller, axially ofv said roller to vary the speed of said record support.

17. In a talking machine, the combination with a rotary record support, of a movable wund reproducer adapted to cooperate ereivith, an axially movable friction roller for rotating said su port, and me'ans actuated by said reproducer for moving said roller, said means bein detachable 'from said reproducer, and said roller being held in a fixed position axially by the detachment of said means.

18. In a talking machine, the combination With a vertical shaft mounted to -rotate upon a ixed axis, of a disc record support carried by the upper end of said shaft, a friction roller, means for rotating said roller, and means iixed on said shaft, and engaged and entirely supported by said roller, 'for vrotating said shaft.

19. ln a talking machine, the combination with a vertical shaft mounted to rotate upon a fixed. axis, of a disc record support carried bythe upperend of said shaft, a friction roller, and means having an under-surface engaged by said roller for rotating. said shaft, vsaid record support and said shaft being supported by said roller..

20. ln a talking machine, the combination With a vertical shaft mounted to rotate upon a fixed axis, of a disc record support carried by the upper end of said shaft, a `friction roller, and means having a conical undersurface engaged by said roller for rotating said shaft.

21. lin a talking machine, the combination with a record support, of means for rotating said record support at a constantly varying speed, said means comprising' a member having a conical surface and an axially movable friction roller mounted upon a fixed axis and engaging said conical surface.

22. lin a talking machine, the combination with a rotary record support mounted to rotate upon a fixed vertical axis, of afriction member cooperating with said support and having a conical surface, an axially movable friction roller mounted to rotate upon an axis and engaging said conical surface, means to rotate said roller, and means to move said roller axially to change the speed of said record sup ort.'

23. ln a talking machine, the combination with a rotary record support, of a movable sound reproducer adapted to cooperate With said support, a motor for rotating said support, and means controlled by said repro' ducer for changing the speed of rotation of said record support, said means comprising a .rotatable shaft, a sleeve mounted upon one end ofsaid shaft and adjustable longitudinally thereof but held against rotation with respect thereto, a second shaft coaxial with said first mentioned shaft, a key rigid lwith said second shaft and adapted to be engaged by said sleeve When said sleever is moved in onev direction from said first shaft, and a fixed member adapted to be engaged by said sleeve to hold said sleeve against rotation when said sleeve is moved yin the opposite direction.

. 24.Y ln a talking machine, the combination of` a record support, a sound record on said support, "a constant speed motor, means betweensaid motor and said support including means controlled by said record for driving said support at a constantly varying rate of rotation, said last mentioned means being adjustable to drive saidjsupport by sai motor at a constant angular speed of rotation.

25. ln a talking machine, the combinar.

tion 'with a record support, of an arm mounted to oscillate about a fixed axis, sound reproducing means carried by said arm, a constant speed motor, and means interposed between said motor and said sup-` port and controlled by said arm for imparting to said supporta constantly, varying speed of rotation, said speed varying means being adjustable to drive said support from said motor at a constant speed of rotation.

26. ln a talking machine, the combination of a reco-rd support,.a constant speed motor, a swinging arm, speed varying means interposed between said motor and said support, means to control said speed varying means directly from said swinging arm, and means 4to disconnect said last mentioned means to drive said support from said motor at a constant angular speed. I

27. llna talkin machine, the combination With a record7 support mounted to rotate on a lined axis, of a member rotatable coaxially with said support and having a conical surface, al friction roller arranged to engage said conical surface to rotatevsaid support, and means to rotate said roller. 28. ln a talking machine, the combination with a record support mounted to rotate on a fixed axis, of a member rotatable coaxially with said support and having a conical "surface, an axially movable friction lid@ in engagement therewith, the combination with a record support mounted to rotate on a ixed axis, of sound reproducing means arranged to cooperate with said support, a friction roller movable longitudinally of its axis of rotation and arranged to rotate said support, and means actuated by; said sound reproducing means for moving said roller longitudinally of its axis of rotation to rotate said support at a constantly varyingspeed of rotation, said means being adjustable to hold said roller against movement longitudinally of its axis of rotation to drive said support at a constant speed of rotation. i l

30. In a talking machine, the combination with a rotary record support mounted to rotate on a fixed axis, of a member rotatable coaxially with said support and having' a.

conical surface, an axially movable friction roller arranged to engage said vconical surfaceA to drive said support, and means includinga constant speed motor for rotating said roller and for moving said roller axially to drive said support at a constantly -constantly varying speed ol rotation, said means being adjustable to hold lsaid roller in a fixed position axially and to rotate said roller to drive said support at a constant speed ci. rotation.

ln a talking machine, the combination i with a rotary record support, of' a constant speed me? a` friction roller, and means having a concave conical surface engaged by said. roller for rotating said support.

33. lin a talking machine in which the reproducer is impelled across the record by the sound record groove through the stylus in engagement therewith, the combination vwith a rotar-y record support, of a movable sound reproducer, a talking machine -motor, and means between said motor and said support and controlled by said reproducer during its movement when reproducing sound for driving said support at a con-1 stantly varying rate of rotation.

34.-. ln a talking machine. in which the reproducer is impelled across the record by the sound record groove through the Astylus in engagement therewith, the combination with a rotary record support, of a movable sound reproducer adapted to cooperate therewith, an axially movable liriction roller lor rotating said support, means. actum ated by said reproducer during its movement for axially moving said roller.

35. ln a talking machine, the combination of a record support, a constant speed motor for driving saidrecord support, a swinging arm, and speed varying means controlled by said arm to regularly vary the rate of rotation 'of said support.

36. In a talking machine, the combination with a freely swinging reproducer, a record support and a motor for driving said support, of power transmitting means interposed between said motor and said support for producing a constant linear speed of the turntable directly beneath said reproducer.

37. lnv a talking machine, the combination with a freely moving reproducer adapted to support a stylus, Aa turntable adapted to support a record, and a motor for driving said turntable, of power transmitting means interposed between said turntable and said motor for maintaining constant the linear speed of said record `in engagement with said stylus.

38. ln a talking machine in/which the reproducer `is impelled across the record by the sound record groove through the stylus in engagement therewith, the combination with a reproducer adapted to support a stylus, a turntable adapted to support a record, and a motor for driving said turntable,

or' power transmitting means interposed between said turntable and said motor and controlled by said reproducer for maintaining constant the linear speed of said record` in engagement with said stylus. l

39. lin a talking machine in which the reproducer is impelled across the record by the i sound record groove through the stylus in engagement therewith, the combination of a constant speed motor adapted to rotate a record support, with means, controlled by the reproducer and coacting with said record support for producing a constant linear speed ol rotation of the record support relatively to said reproducer.

40. ln a talking machina-the combination of means to rotate a record support, a record support rotated thereby, a reproducer, and speed varying means controlled by said reproducer for producing a constant linear speed of said record support rela-x tively to said reproducer, said speed varying means being also adjustable to a ixed relation to rotate said record support at a constant angular velocity.

dl. lin a talking machine, the combination with la rotary record support, and a sound reproducer, the said support and reproducer being relatively movable, and means to rolid tate said support, of means to vary the oli rotation ci said support, including a movable iriction roller and a member having a conical surface, and means to control the position or said roller dependent upon the relanascere tive position o said record support and reproducer.

42. In a talking machine, the combination of a record support, a sound reproducer cooperating therewith, said support and re,- producer being relatively movable, means to rotate said support, including ya member having a conical surface and a movable roller engaging said conical surface, and means controlled by the relative position of the sound reproducer and the support, to move said roller to constantly vary the speed of the rotation of said record support.

43. In a talking machine, the combination of a record support, a sound reproducer relatively movable with respectthereto, a motor for rotating said support, and means between said motor and said support controlled by the relative movement of said support and reproducer for constantly varying the angular speed of rotation of said support, said last-mentioned means being adjustable and operable to cause said motor to rotate said support at a constant angular speed or' rotation.

44. ln a talking machine, the combination with a rotary record support, of a constant speed motor to drive said record support, and speed varying means between said motor and said support to uniformly increase or decrease the speed of said record support While said motor is operating at a constant speed, said speed varying means comprising a cone, and. a longitudinally movable frictional roller co-operating therewith;

45. In a talking machine, the combination with a sound reproducer, a motor, including a governor to maintain constant the speed of said motor, and a rotary disc record support, of motion transmitting means between said motor and said recordsupport whereby said record support is -rotated by said motor, said motion transmitting means including a speed varying vmechanism operative to uniformly increase or decrease the speed of said record support and to maintain a constant linear speed of rotation of a record on said support under said reproducer during the transverse movement 4of said reproducer across a record on said support, and means to render said speed varying means inoperative to vary the speed of rotation of said record support, whereby said record support may be driven from the motor at a constant angular speed of rotation.

46. In a talking machine, the combination with a sound reproducer, a motor including a governor to maintain constant the speed of said motor, and a rotary disc record support, of motion transmitting means between said motor and said record support whereby` In witness whereof, ll have hereunto setmy hand this 24th day of August, A. D. 1917.'

BURN NVDENNISON. 

